Complaints over community group's CCTV system as residents fear film of children and families is shared with hundreds of people

Hartlepool Borough Council has today, Friday, February 12, written to the coordinators of a private CCTV network operating in the West Park, Naisberry Park and Eden Park areas of the town.

It follows complaints from residents uncomfortable their families’ movements are being filmed and circulated among what is believed to be several hundred people.

The cameras, installed in homes, are described as being capable of facial recognition and motion tracking, meaning that they follow, and film, anyone who passing.

The authority understands the network is being run by a community group, while the equipment, which is high-grade and features video analytics, is being supplied and fitted by the same company.

It also believes funding from the general public is being sought by its administrators, who then arrange the purchase in installation of cameras in locations where the group has identified the best spots for coverage of public areas.

The footage is then remotely monitored and shared between members and occasionally put on Facebook and other social media channels.

A council spokesperson said: “The council is not telling people that they can’t put a CCTV camera on their property.

"However, we are very concerned where cameras are being installed to film public areas.

“We have received complaints from a number of residents who are extremely concerned at the thought of being filmed wherever they go and that their children, families, loved ones and even their vehicles are being filmed and monitored without their permission.”

One complainant said: “I fully understand why people like the idea of CCTV cameras to help deter crime but this is not a high crime area.

“I am really concerned that my children are being filmed whenever they leave my house and that footage of this is being shared with people I do not know.

"How do I know that someone is not using this network to stalk me or my children or to figure out the best time to burgle my house?”

The council spokesperson added: “Whilst the council fully supports communities that look to work together and support each other, it cannot condone private CCTV networks that allow for the uncontrolled surveillance of other law-abiding members of the public.”

The council has registered its concerns, and those of the complainants, with the Information Commissioner’s Office, the national regulator for surveillance and data protection.

It says it has explained to the network owners what steps are needed to comply with the law and is not only trying to protect residents being filmed without their permission, but those who may have joined the scheme, and installed cameras, without being made fully aware that they may be breaching data protection requirements.

It said it may be liable to both enforcement action by the Information Commissioner and claims for compensation from whoever feels they have been affected by it.

Anyone who would like more information can visit https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/domestic-cctv-systems-guidance-for-people-using-cctv/.

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